starters (les entrées)

lentil and Brie soup with bacon and chives

April 22nd, 2013

chef morgan lentil and Brie soup

Terrior Parisien® and a little Alléno in your bowl:

 lentil and Brie soup with bacon and chives

The favorable buzz was more than I could bear. It proved to be well-deserved. This week we are visiting Yannick Alléno’s bistro Terroir Parisien® and our weekly simple pleasure is an adaption of his cream of lentil and Brie soup with bacon and chives. Read the rest of this entry »

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raw white asparagus salad

April 12th, 2013

white asp salad

spring sun throught the curtains and inspiring lunch 

raw white asparagus salad 
with parmesan and baby spring greens

For France it has been one of the coldest winters in recent history. While the Parisian snow long disappeared, it remains chilly especially for this California native. The remodeling of my apartment was nearing an end and although it was primarily a grey week, one morning the long-awaited sun shone through the window, through my newly hung curtains, and the illumination called me from the warmth of my tiny place to the still-chilly open air market. It was this morning which inspired this week’s simple pleasure: raw white asparagus salad with parmesan and baby greens.

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cucumber and avocado salad (salade de concombre et avocat)

March 8th, 2013

cucumber and avocado salad

 “a pinch” should apply only to seasoning

cucumber and avocado salad

It was the threat of a Saint Patrick’s Day pinch which inspired this week’s simple pleasure: avocado and cucumber salad. Read the rest of this entry »

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Romanesco cauliflower Fettechini with Gorgonzola

February 12th, 2013

 

Romanesco Cauliflower fettechini with Gorgonzola  for Mardi Gras

Romanesco cauliflower Fettechini with Gorgonzola 

 

serves 6-8

preparation time: 10 minutes
cooking time: 15 minutes

Romanesco Cauliflower fettechini with Gorgonzola  for Mardi Gras ingredients, pine nuts gorgonzola, heavy cream

what you need:

  • 1 head Romanesco cauliflower (or any cauliflower), cut into small florets (~ 10 ounces)
  • ½ pound dry fettechini
  • 8 ounces Gorgonzola (or quality semi-soft blue cheese such as St Agur), crumbled
  • 1-2 tablespoons cup heavy cream
  • ⅓ cup pine nuts, toasted    
  • ~ 1 teaspoon gros sel de Guérande (and to taste)
  • freshly ground black ground pepper (to taste) Read the rest of this entry »
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potato and wilted escarole salad

February 5th, 2013

 

 potato and wilted escarole salad  for valentines day

 potato and wilted escarole salad

this winter salad is full of protein and  tossed in a creamy dressing made with avocaodo (no mayonnaise or cream)

serves 4-6

what you need:

salad
1 small head frisée
1 small head radicchio
1 Belgium endive
8 fingerling potatoes, steamed or boiled
1 small head escarole, leafed 
½ cup Cannelloni beans, drained and rinsed
(optional) ½ cup chopped walnuts, toasted 

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Valentine beet carpaccio

February 5th, 2013

Valentine beet carpaccio

Valentine beet carpaccio

  

serves 6-8

what you need:

1-2 red beets, roasted, peeled
(optional) ¼ cup chopped nuts (nuts, pistachios or walnuts), toasted 

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mushroom soup with truffled straws

January 14th, 2013

 

chefmorgan mush soup1

mushroom soup with truffled straws

 

 

makes ~ 32 ounces

what you need:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound sliced and trimmed mushrooms
⅓ cup sliced leeks (whites only)
½ cup sliced shallots
½ pound diced and peeled Yukon or Russet potatoes Read the rest of this entry »

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fennel and orange salad with toasted walnuts and Argan and honey dressing

January 7th, 2013

 fennel and orange salad with toasted walnuts and Argan and honey dressing

 

fennel and orange salad with toasted walnuts and Argan-honey dressing

 serves 4-6

what you need:

2 fennel bulbs, sliced (about 8 ounces)
1-2 beautiful oranges 
⅓ cup walnut pieces, toasted
2 tablespoons Argan oil (or toasted nut oil)
½ teaspoon fresh orange juice
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon quality honey
gros sel de Guérande (or fleur de sel), as needed Read the rest of this entry »

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celeriac purée with crumbled bacon and potato chips

December 29th, 2012

 chef morgan leriac purée with crumbled bacon and potato chips

celeriac purée with crumbled bacon and potato chips

 

serves 6-8

what you need:

1 large celeriac (celery root), peeled and trimmed (about 14 ounces)
bottled water (as needed)
2 tablespoons quality olive oil
¼ teaspoon ground cardamon
5 tablespoons cooking liquid
2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
kosher salt (to taste)
freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
lemon juice (as needed) Read the rest of this entry »

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seared scallop macarons with chanterelles and thyme

November 30th, 2012

 seared scallop macarons with chanterelles and thyme



seared scallop macarons with chanterelles and thyme

serves 4

what you need:

sauté
1-2 tablespoons unsalted butter
 cups sliced chanterelles and champignons de Paris (or white mushrooms) 
½ teaspoon fresh French thyme leaves
1 teaspoon minced fresh Italian parsley
⅛ cup dry white wine (or Grappa)
kosher salt (as needed)
freshly ground black pepper as needed

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